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08-01-2014, 08:01 PM   #1
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Help me lust after a long lens

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Gathering the idea for a long lens better than my DA55-300. I'd appreciate any thought or experiences between options, here are my thoughts:

Assumption: going over 300mm generally represents a significant bump in price. Therefore, my thoughts are at 300mm and under.

Pentax DA*60-250: Everyone seems happy with the quality of this lens. It's not quite as long as other options that hit 300mm. It's weather sealed, though; I've shot airshows and kids on the beach, so weather sealing is definitely a plus.

Sigma 100-300 f/4: The examples I've seen from this lens are great, and it gains an extra 50mm on the DA*60-250. However, it's not weather sealed, and I'm guessing it's a bigger and heavier lens.

Pentax DA*300: I like the flexibility of zooms, especially when shooting action and the kids. Is the DA*300 that much of a better lens to sacrifice the flexibility of the DA*60-250? When I shoot wildlife, I typically want to go as long as I can, but I'm not so sure I could make this rule on other events or the kids - another argument for the flexibility of a zoom.

Opinions and comparisons on the three lenses are much appreciated. What did I miss? What other lenses might I want to consider taking the above considerations into account?

08-01-2014, 08:35 PM   #2
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The DA*300 has great IQ since it is a * and a prime.

The 60-250 is a great lens as well and fits your requirements of WR and a zoom.

You may just want to keep the 55-300 though and perhaps trade it in for a WR version, and instead get a Sigma 150-500 which is a good airshow lens and currently available at a very low price.
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/94-pentax-price-watch/268889-sigma-specia...5mm-850-a.html
08-01-2014, 10:53 PM   #3
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The DA* 300 is a fabulous lens and is super sharp. But I did find I just wasn't using it enough so I traded it in for the flexibility of a DA* 60-250 - another pretty sharp lens but has the flexibility and is weather resistant.

I also had a Sigma 70-200 F2.8 - a nice fast lens whose primary purpose was for motor sport. But at times I found it was a bit short so I traded that in for a Sigma 100-300 F4. This is now my primary lens for motor sport. Neither is water resistant, but both are very good and sharp lenses, faster focussing than the Pentax lenses, but bigger and heavier.

The Sigma 100-300 F4 is hard to find nowadays, so you could be waiting a while for one of those. The Sigma 70-200 F2.8 is sharp and fast, and is cheaper than the Pentax 60-250 F4, so is well worth considering. But the DA* 60-250 is smaller, lighter, easier to carry around, a better zoom range and weather resistant - so for general use that would get my vote unless faster focussing is important to you. In that case I'd get the Sigma 70-200. Get the 1.4 teleconverter at some point in the future and you've got some extra length.
08-02-2014, 05:36 AM   #4
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There is a "DA tele-zoom" that looks like roughly 135-380 on the Pentax K-mount roadmap, slated for release "2014 or later". I'm waiting to see what comes of it before trading up from the 55-300.

08-02-2014, 06:14 AM   #5
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QuoteOriginally posted by Paul the Sunman Quote
There is a "DA tele-zoom" that looks like roughly 135-380 on the Pentax K-mount roadmap, slated for release "2014 or later". I'm waiting to see what comes of it before trading up from the 55-300.
I can speak to the DA*60-250 and the Sigma 150-500. They are both worthy lenses.
I find the 60-250 more versatile and more portable. I'm more likely to grab it and go (someone once said, the best lens is the one you have with you). While it's only 250 on the long end, having the wider angle is often handy. The WR gives peace of mind. It's also worked well with a Tamron TC, which can get you close to 400MM. It is, though, expensive.
The 150-500, for me anyway, is more of a project lens. I take it out when I have a particular shoot planned, like shooting nesting osprey, and I usually bring a tripod. My copy was not very sharp, but Sigma fixed it and now it's great.
I've read good things about the Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 and a couple of folks have spoken highly of it in this thread. I just looked it up at B&H, though, and was surprised to see it listed as "Discontinued". It's also pretty significantly shorter.
Good luck.
08-02-2014, 09:26 AM   #6
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How about the F* 300? I've got one and without a doubt it's my finest lens. There's one on ebay right now for a great price. They normally command at least $950. If this lens stays under $600 I might just have to buy it and resell here for $900 Pentax SMC F 300 mm F 4 5 Ed If Lens 0027075031548 | eBay

UPDATESOLD FOR $860!


Last edited by Driline; 08-03-2014 at 12:06 PM.
08-02-2014, 09:45 AM   #7
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QuoteOriginally posted by applejax Quote
Gathering the idea for a long lens better than my DA55-300. I'd appreciate any thought or experiences between options, here are my thoughts:

Assumption: going over 300mm generally represents a significant bump in price. Therefore, my thoughts are at 300mm and under.

Pentax DA*60-250: Everyone seems happy with the quality of this lens. It's not quite as long as other options that hit 300mm. It's weather sealed, though; I've shot airshows and kids on the beach, so weather sealing is definitely a plus.

Sigma 100-300 f/4: The examples I've seen from this lens are great, and it gains an extra 50mm on the DA*60-250. However, it's not weather sealed, and I'm guessing it's a bigger and heavier lens.

Pentax DA*300: I like the flexibility of zooms, especially when shooting action and the kids. Is the DA*300 that much of a better lens to sacrifice the flexibility of the DA*60-250? When I shoot wildlife, I typically want to go as long as I can, but I'm not so sure I could make this rule on other events or the kids - another argument for the flexibility of a zoom.

Opinions and comparisons on the three lenses are much appreciated. What did I miss? What other lenses might I want to consider taking the above considerations into account?
"Lust" is the right word.
Once you get the bug, desire for longer focal lengths is insatiable.
And expensive.
I'd recommend you rent a Bigma (50-500mm) and see for yourself which focal lengths you prefer shooting at.
Wildlife generally requires as long a FL as possible; kids events and some sports (depending on their ages) will be well captured at 200-400mm. While a single focal length telephoto offers superior optics, the flexibility of a zoom has a lot of value.
I'd suggest renting now to learn something about your own needs, but holding off purchases until after Photokina. Rumor has it Pentax will finally be showing their long tele-zoom which may be around 100-400mm.

M

08-02-2014, 10:07 AM   #8
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QuoteOriginally posted by Driline Quote
How about the F* 300? I've got one and without a doubt it's my finest lens. There's one on ebay right now for a great price. They normally command at least $950. Pentax SMC F 300 mm F 4 5 Ed If Lens 0027075031548 | eBay
Yep, that's the *300 I would want should I ever get one. Not WR, but the lightest of them. And I see screw drive AF as an advantage - noisy but fast and reliable.
08-02-2014, 10:24 AM   #9
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QuoteOriginally posted by savoche Quote
I see screw drive AF as an advantage - noisy but fast and reliable.
Depends on what you are shooting.
Noisy screw-driven lenses drive away birds and wildlife. I say this from experience. USM lenses are so much better in my experience.

M
08-02-2014, 10:37 AM   #10
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Why not add a 1.4 teleconverter to the DA 55-300?
This will give you a 77 - 420 zoom range.
08-02-2014, 10:42 AM   #11
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QuoteOriginally posted by gmiyamoto Quote
Why not add a 1.4 teleconverter to the DA 55-300?
This will give you a 77 - 420 zoom range.
I think you take too much of a hit in IQ. While nice, the 55-300 is only a consumer quality lens.
08-03-2014, 11:55 AM   #12
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Some really good points here, thanks.

I can definitely see something like that Sigma 150-500 being a "project" lens.

I'm liking the sounds of the 60-250, and am now also interested to see what they say at Photokina. However, the faster focusing speed of the 70-200's is enticing - does the 60-250 focus fast enough to be a practical sports lens?
08-03-2014, 12:09 PM   #13
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QuoteOriginally posted by applejax Quote
does the 60-250 focus fast enough to be a practical sports lens?
Sports is a big tent.
Which specific sports events are you planning on shooting, and about what age groups?

M
08-03-2014, 12:20 PM   #14
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QuoteOriginally posted by Miguel Quote
Sports is a big tent.
Which specific sports events are you planning on shooting, and about what age groups?

M
Autocross and kids stuff at this point. I consider keeping up with my kids running around a sport.
08-03-2014, 12:41 PM   #15
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The long DA*- lenses are excellent, and are eye-openers if you haven't used that quality of lens previously.

I have both the DA 55-300 and the *300 -- and a few others (like the Adaptall SP 300/2.8 and SP 80-200/2.8) and enjoy 'em all.

But if $$ were a factor, and I couldn't accommodate but one, I'd go with my Tamron SP AF 70-200/2.8 or equivalent over all others. The "crop-ability" and flexibility of the better 200mm lenses combined with the excellent high ISO and MPS potential of the newer bodies is an offsetting factor if budget is an issue.
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